Air voltjme control



Jan. 21, 1941. E. D. PARK 2,229,601

ANTISIPHON NONSPLASHING VALVE STRUCTURE I Filed July 14, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet l 4 II lllllll IIII IIIMIIIEIIIi z) "i" J INVENTOR. 43Z1570 fl, PikK.

. ORNEY5.

Patented Aug. 24, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE am VOLUME coN'rnoLWalter E. Kent, Decatur, m. 7 Application March 12, 1942, Serial No.434,409

20 Claims.

My invention relates to automatic controls for self-contained watersystems of the type in which distribution is effected by pressureestablished in the storage tank, as distinguished from gravity flowsystems., Arrangements of this character are customarily used in countrydistricts or in other locations which do not have access to centralpumping stations.

Cardinal requirements of such a system are an automatic introduction ofair into the storage tank and the maintaining of this air above apredetermined pressure over the surface of the water to insure adequateflow at the various outlets of the system. Failure to introduce air inproper amounts results in water logged tanks, sluggish distribution inthe system, increased wear of the motor and pump, and higher operatingcosts. One objection to existing systems is that the air is forced intothe tank at or near the shut-off pressure which is ordinarily of theorder of forty pounds per square inch.

It is therefore one object of my invention to devise a fully automaticair control for introducing air into the storage tank at the allowableminimum tank pressure or a pressure close thereto, i. e., when the pumpis operating at full capacity and highest efficiency.

A further object is to provide a control which automatically interruptsthe flow of air into the tank at a pressure materially less than theshutoif pressure of the pump.

These and further objects of my invention will be set forth in thefollowing specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, and the novel means by which said objects are efiectuated willbe definitely pointed out. in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing a characteristic water system equippedwith my-automatic air control device.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the control shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are similar elevations showing various modifications.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the numeral Ill designates apressure tank which supplies water to any desired number of outletsthrough a pipe Ii and to whichwater is delivered through a pipe l2 bymeans of a pump i3 connected to a suction pipe it that may extend intoa.well. The pipe M may include a check valve 15 and the pump l3 may beof any standard type provided that it is capable of pumping some air.The pump is driven by a motor i6 under the control of a pressure switchII, as commonly used in systems of this character, which is electricallyconnected to the motor and to an electrical supply by a circuit IS.

The switch I! is responsive to the pressure in the pipe" and while itmay be adjusted to stop and start the motor at any desired pressurelimits, it will be considered for purpose of example and not by way oflimitation that the motor will start when the pressure in the tank fallsto twenty pounds per square inch and will stop when the pressure in thetank reaches forty pounds per square inch. Water levels in the tankcorresponding to these pressures, respectively, and with a normal airsupply in the tank, are indicated by the numerals l3 and 2|! in Fig. 1.

The control for automatically introducing air into the tank isdesignated by the numeral 2| in Fig. 1 and is shown in section in Fig. 2to which reference will now be made. The control comprises abuttingcasing parts 22 and 23 between which are clamped a diaphragm 24 and astir! plate 25 which defines with the casing part 22 a suction chamber26. This chamber communicates through a port 21 with a pipe 28 which isconnected to the suction pipe l4.

An air inlet nipple 29 is provided to permit under certain conditionsthe entrance of atmospheric air into the chamber 26 and its inlet endincludes a passage 30 that is closed by a ball valve 3-1 under theimpulse of a light spring 32,

' except when a partial vacuum is created in the chamber 26 ashereinafter described.

A valve 33 provided with guide-ribs 33 is disposed in operative relationtothe port 21 and is carried by one end of a stem 34 whose opposite endextends freely through the plate 25 for securement to the diaphragm 24.A spring 35 encircles the stem 34 with its opposite ends abutting thecasing part 22 and diaphragm 244, respectively, and acts to maintain thevalve 33 in the open position and the diaphragm in the bowed position asshown. The free portion of the diaphragm includes an aperture 36 whichmay be of any desired size, depending upon the conditions of operation,but which in any case provides a restricted means of communicationbetween the chamber 26 and a chamber 3? in the casing part 23., Underthe specific conditions assumed herein, the diameter of the aperture maybe of the order of 3/63". The chamber 31 connects through a pipe 38 withthe tank preferably at. the low pressure water level I9 and p p throughthe pipe l4 and delivering it to the tank by way of the pipe 12.

a pressure gage 39 may be mounted on the part 23 to indicate tankpressures.

In describing the operation of my improved control and system, it willbe assumed that the pump I3 is not running. The pressures in thechambers 26 and 31 are then equalized so that the valve 33 is held openby the spring and the diaphragm occupies the bowed position shown inFig. 2, i. e., the aperture 36 is not masked by the plate 25.

When the tank pressure falls to twenty pounds, the pressure switch I!closes and the l3 begins operating, drawing water The pump establishes apartial vacuum in the chamber 26 which tends to unseat the. valve 3| andpermit a flow of atmospheric air into the system, but whether thiscondition results depends upon the location of the water level in thetank when the pump starts. If this level is substantially as indicatedby the numeral l9, 1. e., below the aperture 36, no partial vacuum willbe created in the chamber 2'5, because air flowing through the aperturewill break the suction in the chamber 26 and will be recirculated by thepump back to the tank. The

- ball 3| remains seated during this period.

However, if the water level in the tank is above the aperture 36 whenthe pump starts, the how of water through the aperture from the tank isinsuflicient by reason of its restricted area to destroy the partialvacuum in the chamber 26, so that the valve 3| is pulled open and air isdrawn into the system from the atmosphere.

The loading applied by the spring 35 to the diaphragm is preferably suchthat when a tank pressure of twenty-three or twenty-four pounds isreached, the diaphragm 24 is flexed to the left to close the valve 33and to also mask the aperture 36 by the plate 25. This action occurs ineither of the above two modes of operation and the valve 33 remainsclosed until the pump is stopped by the establishment of the highpressure limit in the tank. When the pump stops, the pressure in thecontrol equalizes on both sides of the diaphragm, whereupon the spring35 opens the valve 33 in preparation for the next cycle.

It will be particularly noted that the air is introduced into the systemwithin a tank pressure range of twenty to twenty-four pounds, orgenerally at a pressure substantially closer to the low tank pressurethan to the high, that is, during the period when the pump is operatingat the fullest capacity and highest efficiency. Such an arrangementcontrasts advantageously with other types of systems in which the air isintroduced at or near the high pressure limit.

In Fig. 3 is illustrated a modification of the control wherein thediaphragm is eliminated in favor of a stifi plate 40 which is clampedbetween the casing parts 22 and 23 and includes an aperture 4!corresponding in size and function to the aperture 36. As before, thevalve 33 is operably related to the port 21 and is mounted on one end ofa stem 42 whose opposite end extends slidably through the plate 40 forsecurement to a head 43 which is exposed to the tank pressure in thechamber 31 and is positioned to mask the aperture 4| at a predeterminedpressure in the chamber 31. The valve 33 is biased to an open positionand the head 43 to an unmasking position by a spring 44 whose oppositeends abut, respectively, an interior wall of the casing part 22 and awasher 45 fixed to the stem 42. Otherwise, this form of the control isidentical with that illustrated in Fig. 2 and its operation is similarin that, when four pounds, the head 43 is moved towards the left toclose the valve 33 and mask the aperture 4|, the spring' 44 being sizedin relation to the area of the head 43 to accomplish this result. Whenthe pump stops, pressure is equalized in the chambers 26 and 31whereupon the valve 33 and head are moved to the open positions shown bythe spring 44.

The modification shown in Fig. 4 is in many respects the mostpreferable. This structure utilizes a diaphragm 46 to which is securedone end of a valve stem 41 whose opposite end carries the usual valve 33for controlling flow through the port 21. As in the other forms, thevalve 33 is biased to an open position by a spring 48 whose en'ds abutthe casing part 22 and the diaphragm 46. An aperture 49, correspondingin size and function to the previously noted apertures, is provided inthe stem 4'! to establish a restricted means of communication betweenthe chambers 26 and 31. The operation of this device is the same as thatillustrated in Fig. 2, the difference being that the aperture 49 isalways open. In this form, the aperture 49 could b located in thediaphragm, if desired.

In Fig. 5 which shows only a portion of a still further modification,the arrangement and operation is identical with the form shown in Fig.4, except that an aperture is not provided in either the diaphragm 50 orthe valve stem 5|. Hence, there is no direct communication between thechambers 26 and 3! and it would be necessary to use a relief valve (notshown) with the tank to periodically discharge excess air.

I claim:

1. An air volume control for a liquid system having a tank for storingthe liquid under pressure and a pump for supplying liquid to the tankcomprising a casing provided with a suction chamber having an outletport communicating with the pump and an air inlet, the inlet being openwhen a suction is established in the chamber and closed at all othertimes, a valve for controlling flow through the port, and a movablemember connected to the valve and responsive to a predetermined tankpressure for closing the valve.

2. An air volume control for a liquid system having a tank for storingthe liquid under pressure and a pump for supplying liquid to the tankcomprising a casing provided with a suction chamber having an outletport communicating with the pump and an air inlet, the inlet being openwhen a suction is established in the chamber and closed at all othertimes, a valve for controlling fiow through the port, a movable memberconnected to the valve and responsive to a predetermined tank pressurefor closing the valve, and spring means interposed between the casingand member and operative to hold the valve open below said pressure.

3. An air volume control'for a liquid system having a tank for storingthe liquid under pressure and a pump for supplying liquid to the tankcomprising a casing provided with a suction chamber having an outletport communicating with the pump and an air inlet, the inlet being openwhen a suction is established in the chamber and closed at all othertimes, a valve for controlling flow through the port, a diaphragmconnected to the valve and exposed on one side to the tank pressure andon the opposite side to the suction pressure, and spring meansinterposed between the casing and diaphragm and operative to hold thevalve open below a predetermined tank pressure and yielding to'permitthe closing of the valve by the diaphragm at said pressure.

chamber having an outlet port communicating with the pump and an airinlet, the inlet being open when a suction is established in the chamberand closed at all other times, a valve for controlling flow through theport, and a movable member connected to the valve having an apertureproviding a restricted means of communication between the suctionchamber and tank and responsive to a predetermined tank pressure forclosing the valve.

5. An air volume control for a liquid system having a tank for storingthe liquid under pres-.

sure .and a pump for supplying liquid to the tank comprising a casingprovided with a suction chamber having an outlet port communicating withthe pump and an air inlet, the inlet being open when a suction isestablished in the chamber and closed at all other times, a valve for Vcontrolling flow through the port, and a movable member connected to thevalve having an aperture providing a restricted means of communicationbetween the suction chamber and tank and responsive to a predeterminedtank pressure for closing the valve, the aperture being sized to admitliquid from the tank in a quantity insufficient to destroy the suctionin the suction chamber when the liquid in the tank is at anelevationabove the aperture and air from the tank to relieve the suction when theliquid in the tank is at the same elevation as or below the aperture.

6. An air volume control for a liquid system having a tank for storingthe liquid under pressure and a pump for supplying liquid to the tankcomprising a casing provided with a suction chamber having an outletport communicating with the pumpand an air inlet, the inlet being openwhen a suction is established in the chamber and closed at all othertimes, a valve for controlling flow through the port, a diaphragmconnected to the valve and having an aperture providing a restrictedmeans of communication between the suction chamber and tank, theaperture being sized to admit liquid from the tank in a quantityinsufiicient to destroy the suction in the suction chamber when theliquid in the tank is at an elevation above the aperture and air fromthe tank to relieve the suction when the liquid in the tank is at thesame elevation as or below the aperture, and spring means interposedbetween the casing and diaphragm and operative to hold the valve openbelow a predetermined tank pressure and yielding to permit the closingof the valve by the diaphragm at said pressure.

7. An air volume control for a liquid system having a tank for storingthe liquid under pressure and a pump for supplying liquid to the tankcomprising a casing provided with a suction chamber having an outletport communicating with the pump and an air inlet, the inlet being openwhen a suction is established in the chamber and closed at all othertimes, a valve for controlling flow through the port, a diaphragmconnected to the valve and having an aperture providing a restrictedmeans of communication ture being sized to admit liquid from the tank ina. quantity insumcient to destroy the suction in the suction chamberwhen the liquid in the tank is at an elevation above the aperture andair from the tank to break the suction when the liquid in the tank is atthe same elevation'as or below the aperture, spring means interposedbetween the casing and diaphragm and operative to hold vthe valve openbelow a predetermined tank pressure and yielding to permit the closingof the valve by the diaphragm at said pressure, and closure meansoverlying the aperture when the diaphragm is'fiexed to close the valve.

8. In a liquid pressure system, the combination of a tank, a pump forsupplying liquid under pressure to the tank, means for starting andstopping the pump at predetermined minimum and maximum tank pressures,respectively, a suction chamber having an outlet port communicating withthe pump and an air inlet, the inlet being open when a suction isestablished in the chamber and closed at all other times, a valve forcontrolling flow through the port, a passage including a restrictedportion connecting the chamber with the tank substantially at'the lowpressure liquid level, the portion being sized to admit liquid from thetank in a quantity insufflcient to destroy the suction in the suctionchamber when the liquid in the tank is at an ele,

vation above the portion and air from the tank to break the suction whenthe liquid in the tank is at the same elevation as or below the portion,and means including the valve responsive to a tank pressuresubstantially less than the maximum tank pressure for interrupting theair supp y- 9. An air volume control for a liquid system having a tankfor storing the liquid under pressure and a pump for supplying liquid tothe tank comprising a casing provided with a suction chamber having anoutlet port communicating with the pump and an air inlet, the inletbeing open when a suction is established in the chamber and closed atall other times, a valve for controlling flow through the port, a wallportion separating the chamber from a passage communicating with thetank, a movable member exposed to the tank pressure in the passage andconnected to the valve, and spring means abutopen when a suction isestablished in the cham-' ber and closed at all other times, a valve forcontrolling flow through the port, a wall portion separating the chamberfrom a passage communicating with the tank and having an apertureproviding a restricted means of communication between the chamber andpassage, the aperture being sized to admit liquid from the tank in aquantity insuflicient to destroy the suction in the suction chamber whenthe liquid in the tank is at an elevation above the aperture and airfrom the tank to relieve the suction when the liquid in the tank is atthe same elevation as or below the aperture, a movable member extendingthrough the wall portion for exposure to the tank pressure in thepassage and connected to the valve, and spring means abutting the casingand connected to the valve, the spring means being operative to hold thevalve open below a predetermined tank pressure and yielding to permitthe closing of the valve by the member at said pressure.

11. An air volume control for a liquid system having a tank for storingthe liquid under pressure and a pump for supplying liquid to the tankcomprising a casing provided with a suction chamber having an outletport communicating with the pump and an air inlet, the inlet being openwhen a suction is established in the chamber and closed at all othertimes, a valve for controlling flcw through the port, a passageincluding a portion providing a restricted means of communicationbetween the suction chamber and tank, and means connected to the valveand responsive to a predetermined tank pressure for closing the valve.

12. An air volume control for a liquid system having a tank for storingthe liquid under pressure and a pump for supplying liquid to the tankcomprising a casing provided with a suction chamber having an outletport communicating with the pump and an air inlet, the inlet being openwhen a suction is established in the chamber and closed at all othertimes, a valve for controlling flow through the port, a passageincluding a portion providing a restricted means of communicationbetween the suction chamber and tank, theportion being sized to admitliquid from the tank in a quantity insuificient to destroy the suctionin the chamber when the liquid in the tank is at an elevation above theportion and air from the tank to relieve the suction when the liquid inthe tank is at the same elevation as or below the portion, and meansconnected to the valve and responsive to a predetermined tank pressurefor closing the valve.

13. An air volume control for a liquid system having a tank for storingthe liquid under pressure and a pump for supplying liquid to the tankcomprising a casing provided with a suction chamber having an outletport communicating with the pump and an air inlet, the inlet being openwhen a suction is established in the chamber and closed at all othertimes, a valve for controlling flow through the port, a diaphragmconnected to the valve, a passage including a portion providing arestricted means of communication between the chamber and tank, theportion being sized to admit liquid from the tank in a quantityinsuflicient to destroy the suction in the chamber when the liquid inthe tank is at an elevation above the portion and air from the tank torelieve the suction when the liquid in the tank is at the same elevationas or below th portion, and spring means interposed between the casingand diaphragm and operative to hold the valve open below a predeterminedtank pressure and yielding to permit the closing of the valve by thediaphragm at said pressure.

14. An air volume control for'a liquid system having a tank for storingthe liquid under pressure and a pump for supplying liquid to the tankcomprising a casing provided with a suction chamber having an outletport communicating with the pump and an air inlet, the inlet being openwhen a suction is established in the chamber and closed at all othertimes, a valve for controlling flow through the port, a passageincluding a portion providing a restricted means or communicationbetween the chamber and tank,

sure and yielding to permit the closing of the valve at said pressure,and closure means connected to the valve and exposed to the tankpressure and adapted to overlie the portion when the valve is closed.

15. An air volume control for a liquid system having a tank for storingtheliquid under pressure and a pump for supplying liquid to the tankcomprising a casing provided with a suction chamber having an outletport communicating with the pump and air inlet, the inlet being openwhen a suction is established in the chamber and closed at all othertimes, a valve for controlling fiow through the port, and a movablemember connected to the valve and responsive to a predetermined tankpressure for closing the valve, the member being biased to a positionopening the valve below said pressure.

16. An air volume control for a liquid system having a tank for'storingthe liquid under pressure and a pump for supplying liquid to the tankcomprising a casing provided with a suction chamber having an outletport communicating with the pump and an air inlet, the inlet being openwhen a suction is established in the chamber and closed at all othertimes, a valve for controlling fiow through the port, and a diaphragmconnected to the valve and exposed on one side to the tank pressure andon the opposite side to the suction pressure, the diaphragm closing thevalve at a predetermined tank pressure and biased to a position openingthe valve below said pressure.

17. An air volume control for a liquid system having a tank for storingthe liquid under pressure and a pump for supplying liquid to the tankcomprising a casing provided with a suction chamber having an outletport communicating with the pump and an air inlet, the inlet being openwhen a suction is established in the chamber and closed at all othertimes, a valve for controlling flow through the port, and a diaphragmconnected to the valve and having an aperture providing a restrictedmeans of communication between the chamber and tank, the aperture beingsized to admit liquid from the tank in a quantity insuflicient todestroy the suction in the chamber when the liquid in the tank is at anelevation above the aperture and air from the l tank to relieve thesuction when the liquid in the tank is at the same elevation as or belowthe aperture, the diaphragm closing the valve at a predetermined tankpressure and biased to a position opening the valve below said pressure18. An air volume control for a liquid system having a tank for storingthe liquid under pressure and a pump for supplying liquid to the tankcomprising a casing provided with a suction chamber having an outletport communicating with the pump and an air inlet, the inlet being openwhen a suction is established in the chamber and closed at all othertimes, a valve for controlling flow through the port, a diaphragmconnected to the valve and having an aperture providing a restrictedmeans of communication between the chamber andtank, the aperture beingsized to admit liquid from the tank in a quantity insuflicient todestroy the suction in the chamber when the liquid in the tank is at anelevation above the aperture and air from the tank to break the suctionwhen the liquid in the tank is at the same elevation as or below theaperture, the diaphragm closing the valve at a predetermined tankpressure and biased to a position opening the valve below said pressure,and closure means overlying the aperture when the dia-' phragm is flexedto close the valve.

19. An air volume control for a liquid system having a tank for storingthe liquid under pressure and a pump for supplying liquid to the tankcomprising a casing provided with a suction chamber having an outletport communicating with the pump and an air inlet, the inlet being openwhen a suction is established in the chamber and closed at all othertimes, a valve for controlling flow through the port, a wall portionseparating the chamber from a passage communicating with the tank, and amovable member exposed to the tank pressure and connected to the valve,the member closing the valve at a predetermined tank pressure and biasedto a position opening the valve below said pressure.

20. An air volume control for a liquid system having a tank for storingliquid under pressure and a pump for supplying liquid to the tankcomprising a casing provided with a suction chamber having an outletport communicating with the pump and an air inlet, the inlet being openwhen a suction is established in the cham-' her and closed at all othertimes, a valve for controlling flow through the port, a wall portionseparating the chamber from a passage communicating with the tank andhaving an aperture providing a restricted means of communication betweenthe chamber and passage, the aperture being sized to admit liquid fromthe tank in a quantity insuflicient to destroy the suction in thechamber when the liquid in the tank is at an elevation above theaperture and air from the tank to relieve the suction when the liquid inthe tank is at the same elevation as or below the aperture, and amovable member extending through the wall portionfor exposure to thetank pressure and bonnected to the valve, the member closing the valveat a predetermined tank pressure and biased to a position opening thevalve below said pressure.

WALTER E. KENT.

